Abstract
In this study. object transport method based on ultrasonic flexural vibration is presented. Ultrasonic vibration generates ultrasonic traveling waves on the surface of elastic medium. Objects are transported through the interaction with traveling waves propagating in medium. Two types of transport methods are studied： frictional drive and acoustic levitation. With frictional drive, objects are transported in contact with the beam in the opposite direction of wave propagation whereas with acoustic levitation, objects are acoustically levitated above the beam surface and transported in the wave propagation direction. Transport characteristics are experimentally investigated using objects of different shapes and sizes. The transition from acoustic levitation mode to frictional drive mode is also examined. and it is found to occur when the ratio of mass to area of an object exceeds the threshold ratio of mass to area. It is envisaged that this feasibility study will serve as a stepping-stone for ultrasonic vibration to become an effective industrial material handling device in the future.